The Poet and the Quarterback

The football field stretched out before them, dots of red and purple scattered across the green as players from both teams warmed up. The bleachers gradually filled with early arrivals, and the crisp fall air carried the faint scent of grass and the unspoken anticipation of the game. Yelena walked beside Natasha, but her mind was far from the game. 

“You really want to do this now? Before the game?” Natasha’s voice cut through her racing thoughts, pulling Yelena out of her thoughts.

Yelena shook her head, her jaw tight. “No. I would never distract Kate Bishop before a game. I’m just going to ask if we can talk afterwards.” Her voice wavered slightly, betraying the tumult within her, but she masked it with a steady tone.

Natasha gave her a thoughtful nod as they crossed through the gate and onto the edge of the field. The stands were still mostly empty, only a few people trickling in. 

Yelena’s eyes darted across the field, searching for her—and there she was, black shorts and a hoodie with her football jersey thrown on top.Kate’s dark hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, strands escaping to frame her face.

Yelena’s breath caught in her throat, her chest tightening painfully at the sight of her best friend. She clenched her fists at her sides and tried to steady herself.

How could she? The thought ripped through her, angry and sharp. Angry at Kate for keeping this secret. Angry for letting Yelena think it was someone else, for playing along while she spent all this time agonizing who wrote the poems Yelena had gone on dates with Dani, had been confused, vulnerable, trying to make sense of her feelings, and all along… Kate had known.

And yet… beneath the anger, there was hurt and embarrassment. A deep ache that clawed at her heart, settling there like a heavy stone. Was it just Natasha who knew about it? Who else knew? 

“Hey, Yelena,” Kate called out, her voice bright, her face lighting up with that easy, infectious smile, completely unaware of what Yelena had uncovered the night before.

Yelena forced a smile, but it felt heavy, weighed down by everything she was trying to hold back.

“Kate Bishop.” Her voice came out smooth, too smooth, as she greeted her. Her fingers absently tugged at the hem of her jersey—a faded red, worn from years of use. Kate’s old practice jersey. 

Kate’s eyes flickered to the jersey, her smile widening with a teasing glint. “Liking the jersey. You picked my favorite one,” she said lightly.

Yelena glanced down at the worn fabric, her fingers brushing against the number. It should feel comforting—like it always had—but there was another heavy feeling. It felt almost…suffocating. The poem from last night echoed in her mind, the words clinging to her like the jersey clung to her skin.

“What’s up?” Kate’s voice pulled Yelena back to the present. 

Behind Kate, the rest of the team was warming up, tossing the ball back and forth, but Kate’s focus was entirely on Yelena. Yelena swallowed hard, the words she wanted to say caught in her throat. She clenched her fists tighter, the anger slowly simmering leaving just a tinge of hurt just below the surface.

She was right there the whole time. And I didn’t see it.

“Can I talk to you after the game?” Yelena’s voice was softer now.

Concern flashed across Kate’s face, her brow furrowing slightly as she took a step closer.

“Yeah, of course. Is everything okay?”

Yelena’s heart twisted painfully at the tenderness in Kate’s voice. She wanted to scream, to ask how Kate could stand there so casually, how she could act like she wasn’t keeping something that could change their relationship entirely.

But she couldn’t. 

Not with the team behind them, with the weight of the game on Kate’s shoulders.

“Just focus on winning your game, yes?” Yelena’s voice dropped lower, her tone soft but firm. She didn’t want to distract Kate before the game. She could see the worry etched into Kate’s features, “Don’t worry about it.”

Kate’s eyes lingered on Yelena for a moment, the concern still evident, but she nodded, trying to shake off the unease. “Okay, yeah. Of course. The Hawks have nothing on us.” A crooked smile tugged at the corner of her lips, the playful glint returning to her eyes.

Yelena’s chest tightened, the emotions still swirling violently inside her. She was furious. Furious at Kate for keeping her in the dark, for making her feel so confused for so long. And yet, despite everything, despite the betrayal and the hurt, there was still a flicker of something else. Something warmer. Softer.

This was the girl she was in love with. The same girl she had met at nine years old who could make her laugh by painting a deformed dolphin or smile by giving her a large plushie look-a-like of her dog. 

The girl she is in love with loves her back. 

“Good luck, Bishop,” Yelena said, her voice lighter now, a small, genuine smile tugging at her lips despite herself. She stepped back, watching as Kate’s smile widened, the familiar warmth spreading through her chest.

Kate grinned, her eyes sparkling as she gave Yelena a quick wink before turning back to join her team. Yelena watched her go, her heart thudding in her chest, as she turned around to save her parents and friends’ seats. 

After the game. We’ll figure it out, Yelena promised herself.

➳⧗ 

Kate watched from the sidelines as the blonde threw her head back, laughing loudly at whatever Sonya had just said.

A smile tugged at the corners of Kate's mouth, threatening to break free.

I’m so in love with her. 

➳⧗ 

“This is way too fucking close. I can’t watch.”

MJ groaned, sinking back into her seat as the Hawks scored, tying the scoreboard with WestView. The stadium erupted into a mix of cheers and groans, the tension thick in the air.

The football players returned to their respective sides, WestView's quarterback sitting down for a quick water break. Yelena bit her lip, her eyes following Kate, who was standing on the sidelines talking to Pietro. She could see the focus etched on her best friend’s face, every muscle tense with the weight of the game. Pietro patted her shoulder before jogging back to the field, leaving Kate alone for a moment. 

Yelena turned to Wanda, holding out her hand. The redhead wordlessly passed her a few Red Vines, then struck up a conversation with MJ and Peter on Yelena's other side.

A few moments later, Sonya’s loud whistle cut through the chatter, drawing everyone's attention.

“Who is that hottie?”

“What?” Yelena’s head snapped to Sonya, brows furrowed.

“The one Kate’s talking to.”

Yelena’s neck jerked toward the field, her eyes locking onto Kate, who was standing by the sidelines, arms crossed as she chatted with someone. Yelena squinted, her stomach twisting when she realized it wasn’t just anyone—it was a Hawks cheerleader. 

And not just any Hawks cheerleader.

It was Anna. Kate’s ex-girlfriend.

“Is that Anna?” Yelena’s voice was tight, the words slipping out before she could stop herself.

“That’s Anna,” Peter confirmed obliviously, leaning forward slightly to get a better view.

Yelena’s jaw clenched, her hands curling into fists in her lap. Her eyes narrowed as she watched Kate throw her head back, laughing at something Anna said. 

“Did they end on a bad note?” Wanda asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

“Kate didn’t really tell us much,” Peter answered with a shrug, “but if they did, it doesn’t look like it now.”

“More than fine,” Sonya added with a smirk.

Yelena swallowed hard, her eyes glued to Kate and Anna. That familiar jealousy churned in her stomach—the same one she thought she’d buried long ago after their first year of high school. The blonde forced herself to look away, but not before seeing Anna’s hand briefly clasp Kate’s arm before she walked off.

What was that about?

The game was down to the wire. Kate had the ball, and the crowd was on its feet. WestView was inches from scoring the winning touchdown, the tension in the air thick with anticipation. Yelena could hardly breathe as Kate sprinted toward the end zone, weaving through defenders as if they weren’t even there. Every step, every move was calculated.

“This is it,” Peter muttered, his eyes wide as he leaned forward. “She’s got this.”

Yelena’s pulse quickened, her hands gripping the edge of her seat. 

Kate was unstoppable.

—until she wasn’t.

Out of nowhere, a Hawks defender charged at full speed, slamming into Kate from the side. The impact was brutal, sending Kate tumbling to the ground, the ball slipping from her grasp. A collective gasp echoed through the stands, the sharp intake of breath from the crowd deafening.

Yelena’s heart froze in her chest. 

Kate wasn’t moving.

“Shit—Kate!” Yelena’s voice barely registered as she stared at the field, frozen. Time seemed to slow, the world narrowing to that one horrifying image—Kate, motionless on the ground. Players from both teams rushed to her, Pietro dropping to his knees beside his friend, frantically checking her.

Yelena didn’t think. Her body moved on its own, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She shot to her feet, ignoring her parents' cries of protest as she ran down the bleachers and vaulted over the fence, her mind racing. 

Her legs burned as she sprinted across the field and the warm air against her skin. She shoved past the players, her breath ragged, and dropped to her knees beside Pietro, her hands trembling.

“Kate Bishop?! Is she okay?” Yelena’s voice cracked, her hand hovering over Kate’s still form, her eyes closed and body still, afraid to touch her and hurt her. 

“Over here!” She could vaguely remember hearing her older sister’s voice in the background. 

Pietro glanced up at the sisters, his face pale with worry. “I don’t know. She landed wrong on her right leg though. It might be broken. Kate? Wake up Kate.” His voice raised louder as he gently placed a hand on her shoulder. Yelena’s heart clenched as she looked down at Kate. 

“Kate Bishop…” Yelena whispered, her voice shaking as she reached out, her hand finding Kate’s. She squeezed gently, as if trying to bring Kate back to consciousness. “Please, come on.”

Kate groaned softly, her eyes fluttering open for a brief moment, unfocused and hazy. Yelena’s breath hitched as she felt Kate’s fingers twitch against her own.

“Yelena…” Kate’s voice was weak, barely audible, but it was enough. “W-What? You…hopped the fence?”

Yelena let out a shaky laugh, the relief almost overwhelming. “You scared the hell out of me.”

Kate managed a faint smile, “I’m Kate Bishop. Nothing can take me down,” but her eyes slipped shut again, her body limp. Yelena’s heart raced as panic clawed at her once more. 

“Kate? Kate!” She shook her gently, her voice rising with fear. She could barely feel Natasha’s attempt to get her to calm down.

The medics arrived then, successfully pushing Yelena aside as they assessed Kate. They worked quickly, strapping her to a stretcher, their faces set with professional focus. Yelena stood frozen, her eyes never leaving Kate as they lifted her from the ground, barely registering the concerned murmuring from the people in the crowd. 

One of the medics turned to Yelena, offering her a reassuring smile. “I believe she has a mild concussion and a sprained leg. We’ll double check inside but I’m sure. She’ll be fine.” 

Fine. Kate was going to be fine, Yelena nodded, the words barely sinking in. She nodded at Natasha before following the stretcher off the field, her hand finding Kate’s again. Kate’s skin was warm, her pulse steady beneath Yelena’s fingertips, calming the blonde down. 

“Yelena,” Kate murmured weakly, her eyes fluttering open just for a second as they wheeled her toward the ambulance. “I’m okay.”

Yelena swallowed hard, her throat tight. “Yeah, you are,” she whispered, more to herself than to Kate. But the fear still gnawed at her, the image of Kate lying there, unmoving, seared into her mind.

As the ambulance doors closed behind them, Yelena sat by Kate’s side, never keeping her eyes off of the football player. 

Yelena stayed back, letting the paramedics do their job as they tended to Kate, ensuring her leg was stabilized and checking for signs of a concussion. She watched silently, her heart gradually slowing as relief washed over her with each rise and fall of Kate’s chest. Yelena's eyes flickered upward, and to her surprise, she found blue eyes already looking back at her—Kate's gaze, though unfocused, locked onto her with a softness that made Yelena wonder how she missed the way the quarterback looked at her.

“What did you want to talk about?” Kate’s voice was a quiet rasp, still dazed and not quite there, but it was clear she was trying. 

The question hit Yelena like a truck and she suddenly remembered her initial plan for today. She’d wanted to talk to Kate after everything—the secret, the poems, the overwhelming feelings she had been struggling to make sense of. But in the chaos of seeing Kate lying on the field, still and silent, it had all vanished. Fear and concern had taken over, clouding her mind completely.

Yelena swallowed, her throat tight as she shook her head gently. “It can wait, don’t worry about it, okay? Just rest, Kate Bishop.”

➳⧗ 

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure," Yelena's voice was soft as her fingers grazed the outer shell of her ear, delicate and feather-light. 

In her concussion-induced haze, she could only focus on Yelena—the soft light in the room seemed to gather around the blonde, casting a gentle glow over her. Her hair, golden and tousled, caught the light like a halo, framing her face. The familiar sight of Yelena’s green eyes, wide and full of concern, reminded Kate of a doe—pure and beautiful. She was ethereal, an angel made real, her presence both comforting and otherworldly.

"Okay, beautiful." 

➳⧗ 

Yelena froze. Of all the nicknames Kate had called her over the years—Yel, Lena, Beloved (mostly when she wanted to annoy her but she secretly found it endearing)—"beautiful" was new. And now, knowing what she did about her own feelings and everything tangled up with the poems, the word hit differently. Yelena felt her cheeks burn, her heart skipping a beat.

With a soft sigh, Yelena rested her chin on her hand, watching Kate rest with a mixture of fondness and amusement. A small smile tugged at her lips despite everything, the weight of the moment still lingering in the air, but now softened by the warmth that only Kate could bring out in her.

I’m so in love with her.

➳⧗ 

“Is this really necessary?” 

“Miss Bishop,” the doctor began in a firm but not unkind voice, “you sprained your leg and suffered a mild concussion on the field today. If you want another chance to get back out there, you must keep this on and keep it clean.”

Kate pouted as the doctor wrapped a purple compression bandage snugly around her injured leg. She nodded reluctantly, her expression one of defeat. The doctor gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before leaving the room to fetch medication, leaving Yelena and Kate alone in the quiet hospital room.

“Yelena?”

“Yes, Kate Bishop?”

Kate smirked, her signature grin poking through despite the haze of her injury. “Will you do the honors and be the first to sign my cast?”

Yelena rolled her eyes. “It’s not a cast, Kate Bishop. That’s a compression wrap.”

Kate’s pout deepened, her eyes turning into the classic puppy dog expression that Yelena could never resist. Yelena sighed dramatically, but a small smile played on her lips as she grabbed a silver sharpie that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

“Fine.” She leaned over, carefully scrawling her name across the purple bandage, the sharpie making a faint squeaking noise. When she finished, she handed the marker to Kate with a teasing smile. “Now do you want to sign yours on here?”

“What do you mean?” Kate blinked, the question catching her off guard. 

"I mean, sign your name." Yelena raised an eyebrow, feigning obliviousness, though her earlier comment had been aimed at her poet’s habit of signing their poems with ‘Yours’. She watched Kate's wide eyes, the last string of patience close to snapping the longer she was in the same room as her. 

"Why would I want to sign my own cast?" Kate asked, her tone light but guarded.

"Never mind.” Yelena replied with a shrug, though a small frown played on her face.

Kate hesitated, then smirked. "You know what? You’re right. Why shouldn’t I sign my own?" She grabbed the marker and began to scrawl her name on the plaster, her movements casual, but Yelena’s eyes locked onto the paper, studying every curve.

As Kate wrote, Yelena noticed it—the distinct way she shaped the letter "o" in Bishop.

"Did you know," Yelena began, her voice hesitant, as if testing the waters, "that you curve the end of your 'o' every single time? Almost like a little baby hair strand sticking out?"

"Huh?" Kate hummed, still holding the marker.

"You write a certain way. Always a curve somewhere. Same thing with your 'j', 'g', and even 'l'." Yelena’s tone trembled despite how much she tried not to let any emotions get in the way of this inevitable confrontation.

Yelena cleared her throat and lifted her chin up, her voice now stronger.

"You did it in the first poem."

Kate froze.

“What?”

Yelena’s voice wavered, her eyes never leaving Kate’s, “Your beauty, like a whispered song…”

Kate gaped at the blonde in shock before swallowing a lump in her throat and looking down at Yelena’s name written on her wrapped leg. 

“-Has held my heart for oh so long,” Kate finished, her own voice trembling, “In silence, let these lines convey…”

“The love I feel for you each day,” Yelena whispered, her hands shaking.

Their eyes locked, and the tension between them was thick, unspoken emotions finally spilling out. Yelena's throat tightened, and she dropped her gaze to her twisting hands, unable to bear the intensity of the moment.

“A firefly, huh?” Yelena murmured.

“We’re both fireflies,” Kate said weakly. “How’d you know?”

Yelena couldn’t help but snort. “I'm number nine, but you're the one I need. It was so obvious, yet I was so blind.”

“Wait, h-how do you know that? I never gave that one to you.” Kate furrowed her eyebrows frowning in confusion.

“Natasha.” Was all she said as Kate sighed deeply but nodded as if she wasn’t surprised. 

“You’re mad,” Kate said, her tone soft, though her words held a question.

Yelena’s eyes darkened with a mix of frustration and hurt. “You let me believe it was Dani. You say all these things on paper, but you never tried with your actions.”

Kate’s breath hitched, and she shook her head quickly, her face filled with regret. “I always put your happiness first, Yelena. I never wanted to get in the way. If you were happier with someone else, I could accept that. I tried—believe me, I tried—but every time I got close, the universe would remind me of what we are.”

“And what are we?” Yelena’s voice wavered, almost pleading.

Kate’s eyes were glassy, her expression raw and vulnerable. “Best friends.”

“No,” Yelena shook her head, her frustration breaking through. “Best friends don’t write love poems. Best friends don’t pine over each other while dating someone else. Best friends don’t love each other the way we do.”

Kate’s head shot up, her breath catching in her throat. “Wait… you love me?”

“I’ve been in love with you my whole life, Kate Bishop.” Yelena’s voice broke as the truth finally slipped out.

Kate’s eyes widened in disbelief, her voice barely a whisper. “Yelena… I’ve been in love with you since you painted my sky.”

Yelena blinked, tears welling in her eyes as the weight of Kate’s words sank in. It was one thing to read it through the poems, and another to hear those words come out of her best friend’s mouth. 

“I should’ve known it was you,” she muttered, shaking her head at her own blindness. “Wait… but what about Anna? I saw you talking to her during one of the breaks.”

“Are you jealous? She came up to me because she told me about her plan of getting her cousin Clint, one of the Hawks football players, with Laura. She was pointing out how distracted he was looking at Laura and that’s why they were losing.” Kate realized with a smile creeping on her face. “You were jealous, weren't you?”

Yelena blushed as she sputtered, “If you are just now realizing I am jealous, then you didn’t see me our first year of high school.”

Kate let out a soft sigh. “I didn’t realize I was in love with you until Anna told me.”

“Your ex-girlfriend told you that you were in love with me?” Yelena raised an eyebrow, trying to process the absurdity of it all. “Is that what that argument was about?”

Kate nodded slowly, guilt flickering in her eyes. “When we were dating, she made me choose between us and well…you.”

“And you chose me,” Yelena said, her voice barely audible, as if she was afraid to believe it.

“I will always choose you.”

The weight of those five words, the raw sincerity in Kate’s voice, sent a shiver down her spine. Those words—so simple yet so profound—echoed through her, breaking down every defense, every doubt she’d built to protect herself from this very moment. She had spent so long believing Kate’s love was out of reach, that they were nothing more than best friends bound by unspoken boundaries. But now, the truth is clearer than ever and it was more terrifying than anything she'd ever faced.

Her chest tightened, and the emotions that had been clawing at her for years broke free. Love. Anger. Longing. All of it surged to the surface, and she felt like she was drowning in it, unable to keep it at bay any longer. 

She couldn’t think. 

She couldn’t breathe. 

The vulnerability in Kate’s eyes nearly undid her. The same vulnerability that mirrored Yelena’s own fear of rejection for years.

All she knew was that she needed Kate—needed to feel her, to know that this wasn’t some sort of cruel dream.

And in that moment, something snapped.

Before she could second-guess herself, Yelena lunged forward, her lips crashing against Kate’s in a kiss that was anything but gentle. It was messy, desperate—filled with every unspoken word, every hidden feeling she had bottled up for years. 

Kate froze, the shock of Yelena’s sudden kiss rendering her motionless for a moment. But then, like a switch had been flipped, Kate responded. Her arms wrapped around Yelena’s waist, pulling her closer, kissing her back with just as much urgency. The intensity between them only grew, and for the first time, they let themselves feel everything. There was no pretending, no hiding. Just raw emotion spilling out in a way that words never could.

Yelena’s hands found their way to Kate’s face, cupping her cheeks as if afraid she might slip away. She kissed her deeper, savoring the taste of the lips she had dreamed of for so long. It was overwhelming—every emotion rushing through her at once, leaving her breathless. But it wasn’t enough. Yelena pressed closer, needing more of Kate, more of this moment that she had waited so long for.

When Yelena finally pulled away, her forehead came to rest gently against Kate’s, both of them breathless, their chests rising and falling in perfect rhythm. Their hearts seemed to beat as one, the moment charged with years of emotions left unsaid. Yelena’s eyes fluttered shut, trying to hold on to the gravity of what just happened, while Kate’s lips quivered into a soft, dazed smile as she slowly opened her eyes.

“Woah,” Kate muttered, her voice hoarse from the intensity of the kiss. 

Yelena chuckled softly, her voice a little shaky as she tilted her head just enough to brush their noses together in a tender gesture.

"I am still very hurt, Kate Bishop," she spoke openly with a serious expression. "But I can’t wait any longer. I’ve waited far too long for this.”

Kate’s eyes softened, a mix of regret and longing flickering in their depths. “Eight years,” she whispered, the weight of their lost time hanging between them. “I’m sorry, Lena. I should’ve told you sooner. But I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

Yelena inhaled deeply, letting the moment settle, the air between them filled with an unspoken understanding. "I know you will," she said quietly, her voice steady now. "But for now, I’ll take kisses as the first step to making it up to me."

A mischievous grin tugged at Kate’s lips. 

"Kisses, huh? That’s a fair start," she murmured, her voice low and playful, not waiting another moment before she gently pulled Yelena closer. She was mindful of her injured leg but lost in the urgency of the moment. Her lips found Yelena’s again, this time slower, more deliberate, yet no less passionate.

Yelena melted into the kiss, her heart swelling as warmth spread through her entire body. She wrapped her arms around Kate’s neck, pulling her closer. Every doubt, every missed opportunity between them seemed to dissolve as they deepened the kiss, both of them finally allowing themselves to just feel.

Her heart had been aching all day.

It still was. 

But this time, it was a good kind of ache. 

The kind that came from finally getting what you’ve always wanted.

She pulled back just enough to rest her forehead against Kate’s once more, her voice a gentle whisper. "You have no idea how long I’ve wanted this."

Kate’s grin widened, her own heart racing. "I think I have some idea," she teased, leaning in to steal another brief kiss.

Yelena let out a soft laugh, her eyes sparkling as she nestled deeper into Kate’s embrace. She held on tightly, as if letting go now would mean waking up from a dream. 

But it wasn’t a dream—it is real. 

Kate is her best friend, yes. 

But she is also her poet—the one who had quietly poured her heart out through words and made her feel like she could rule the world with each poem.

And she is her quarterback, the girl who had fought her battles on the field, with Yelena cheering from the sidelines, always standing by her side, always being the one that Number 9 needs.

The Poet and the Quarterback. 

Her Poet and her Quarterback. 

And she wasn’t ever letting her go.

End of Part 1